Mimi's Restaurant of River Ridge

Fans of chef Pete Vazquez grew accustomed to following him around town after Hurricane Katrina. His restaurant Marisol never reopened, so Vazquez became a roving chef who cooked at offbeat venues, including the backyard of the wine shop Bacchanal. After a long hiatus, Vazquez has resurfaced at Mimi's Restaurant of River Ridge (10160 Jefferson Hwy., River Ridge, 737-6464; www.mimisriverridge.com), where he's working with chef and owner David Whitmore to revamp the menu. Some of Mimi's familiar Creole-Italian fare remains, but look for Vazquez's hand in dishes like gnocchi with escargot and duck Milanese.